With the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online library now fully in operation, I’m sure a large number of you have taken the plunge and bought the Nintendo 64 Wireless Controller from the My Nintendo Store as well. I have done exactly the same thing myself as the Nintendo 64 controller has always been one of my favorite video game controllers.
After using the controller to play some of the games in the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online library, I began to wonder if there were any Nintendo Switch games outside of the NSO that could be playable with the controller.
Now, as many of you may have guessed, the Nintendo 64 controller does not have as many buttons as the Pro Controller. It doesn’t have an X or a Y button for starters and the C-buttons function like a D-pad of sorts for the right joystick. I did think that perhaps I could rearrange the button functions with button mapping but the Nintendo 64 Controller does not have this option available on the Nintendo Switch.
This was a shame as it would have made things a lot easier but nevertheless, I did find some games that work with the Nintendo 64 controller that does not require the use of an X or Y button.
Mario Party Superstars
Let’s start with one of the most recent games to come out around the time this guide was published. Mario Party Superstars is an ideal game to use the Nintendo 64 Controller with as it only relies mainly on the A and B buttons and the joystick. A good number of the minigames in Mario Party Superstars were from Mario Party games that were released on the Nintendo 64 so it is only fitting to be able to play them with a Nintendo 64 controller.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
You might be hard-pressed to find this game in stores now but Super Mario 3D All-Stars did recently receive an update that allowed the Nintendo 64 wireless controller to be compatible with Super Mario 64. You can use the controller somewhat with Super Mario Sunshine but you will find yourself lacking buttons once again. But hey, at least you can play Super Mario 64 with a Nintendo 64 controller, so that’s a win, right?!!!
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is another Mario game that can be played with the Nintendo 64 controller. However, you do need to alter the control scheme in-game to make it more suitable. By default, the game uses both A and B buttons to jump and Y and X to dash. You can change this by pausing the game and changing the control settings in the lower right corner of the screen. You can change the control scheme to option 2 and you can then use A to jump and B to dash/use power-ups.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is probably the most accessible game to play when it comes to game controllers and the Nintendo 64 Controller is no different. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe doesn’t require the use of the X or Y button and so the Nintendo 64 Controller can easily be used with this game. The Z button operates like the ZL button and can be used to throw/drop items.
Warioware: Get It Together!
Bwahahaha! Why should Mario games get all of the fun? Warioware: Get It Together! can also be played with the Nintendo 64 controller. All of the characters in the game use the joystick to move (or move a cursor) and the A button to use their attack or function. No need for Y or X buttons here and the B button is reduced to being used for canceling or going back on menu screens.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter & Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil
I AM TUROK! Okay, so I am not Turok but I CAN play Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil on Nintendo Switch with a Nintendo 64 controller. It is just as well really seeing as both of these games were originally on the Nintendo 64. By default for the Nintendo Switch version, the X and Y Buttons are used but Nightdive Studios have a rather extensive button mapping menu that makes it possible to remap the buttons and play the game how it used to be played on the N64.
DOOM 64
Another classic Nintendo 64 game that has been remastered for Nintendo Switch by the talented team at Nightdive Studios. DOOM 64 is also playable with the Nintendo 64 Controller but, like with the Turok games, some customization with the button mapping is required to make sure you can utilize the N64 controller fully. Once you make the necessary adjustments, you’ll be good to go!
These are just a select few games that can be played with the Nintendo 64 Controller and I am sure there are quite a few others on Nintendo Switch that can be played with the controlled as well. If you know of any games, do please let us know and we may even do a follow-up guide and credit you for your tip submission!
Thank you for reading and until next time, Keep On Gaming!
